June 19, 2010

ROSARITO, Mexico – The Canadian women’s volleyball team are in an almost must win situation in order to advance to the playoff round after a hard-fought loss to Cuba on Saturday in round robin action at the Pan Am Cup.



The Cubans, ranked sixth in the world, took the match 21-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 in one hour and 39 minutes.



Top scorers for Canada were Tonya Mokelki of Weyburn, Sask., with 16 points, Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ont., with 15, team captain Tammy Mahon of Holland, Man., with 11 and Jennifer Hinze of Vancouver with 10. Both Pavan and Mokelki earned three of their points on service aces.



Cuba leads the A pool with four points, idle Argentina (which defeated Canada in five sets Friday) is tied with the Dominican Republic (which defeated Brazil in its opening match Saturday), at two points while Brazil and Canada are winless in their first two matches.



The Canadians play Brazil on Monday and the Dominican on Tuesday. The top-three in each of the two pools advance to the playoffs which start June 24. The U.S., leads pool B with four points after a victory Saturday over Puerto Rico.



This is Canada’s first tournament in 2010 as they ultimately prepare for the world championships this fall in Japan.



Canadian roster for the Pan Am Cup women’s volleyball tournament June 19-26 in Tijuana, Mexico.

Players; Tammy Mahon, Holland, Man.; Tonya Mokelki, Weyburn, Sask.; Ashley Voth, Winnipeg; Kyla Richey, Roberts Creek, B.C.; Jennifer Hinze, Vancouver; Marisa Field, Kelowna, B.C.; Tasha Holness, Calgary; Sarah Pavan, Kitchener, Ont.; Carla Bradstock, Richmond, B.C.; Janie Guimond, Bécancour, Que.; Julie Young, Red Deer, Alta.; Lauren O'Reilly, Langley, B.C.



Head Coach Arnd Ludwig

Assistant Coach Scott Koskie

Team Manager Diane Scott

Athletic Therapist Ben Trunzo

Statistician David Carrassco





For more information:

Louis Daignault

Volleyball Canada

Tel: (613) 824-9475

Skype: louis.daignault

E-mail: louisdaignault@rogers.com

Web: www.volleyball.ca

Facebook: Volleyball Canada

Twitter: http://twitter.com/VBallCanada